Quinn Brothers: Capital Office Systems/Capital Office Supplies.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: 2011 Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame - Company overview

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A key ingredient of the Quinn brothers' success in their commercial interiors and office supply empire in Alaska comes from knowing and balancing their individual talents as well as any three members of a seasoned symphony.

Lewis, Ted and Bryan Quinn, as the siblings behind the synergy at their two Capital Office ventures, Capital Office Systems and Capital Office Supplies, are being honored as 2011 Junior Achievement of Alaska Business Hall of Fame laureates.

The parent company for these office enterprises is Qub'd (pronounced Cubed) International, while 1 Workplace, another in the Quinn stable of workspace providers, primarily features commercial interior design services for Capital Office Systems. A Steelcase-authorized furniture dealer, Capital Office Systems offers commercial interiors, architectural product solutions, and services and repairs to businesses or nonprofits in Alaska via three locations in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks. Under the Capital Office Systems' banner, furniture and design now account for the bulk of the Quinn companies' sales.

Capital Office Supply, the original flagship of the triumvirate, dates back to 1946 when, the brothers say, it was in the business of supplying pens and pencils to the provisional government of the Alaska territory. While the firm previously operated from storefronts in Juneau, it now sells consumable office supplies to businesses, primarily in that local market, through its catalog and website, www.capital-office.com. The Quinns say business has improved since they closed their retail outlet. They pegged full time employment these days at 45-50, with figures doubling during busy times when temps help swell the ranks.

FAMILY NURTURED

The Quinns' father, Terry Quinn, who moved to Alaska in 1972 from Arizona, ran the phone company in Juneau for a time. He bought into Capital in 1976 and became sole owner a decade later.

Lewis came into the family business after a foray into financial services. Ted came on board with the Office Systems expansion, and Bryan with further growth. The sons acquired the company in 1994.

Today, Lewis and Bryan live in Anchorage, while Ted still resides in Juneau. Bryan, who studied business and history for about three years, is the only brother who went to college.

Although the brothers were fortunate, both in having an entrepreneurial role model in the family and in being similarly driven to create their own business, Bryan cautioned...